Vietnam - Local government

Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces (
tinh
), and three municipalities (
thu do
)—Hanoi, Haiphong, and Ho Chi Minh City—all administered
by the national government. Districts, towns, and villages are governed
by locally elected people's councils. Council candidates are
screened by the party. Council members' responsibilities include
upholding the constitution and laws and overseeing local armed forces
units. The councils in turn elect and oversee executive organs, called
people's committees, to provide day-to-day administration. The
entire system functions in a unitary fashion, with local organs of
authority directly accountable to those at higher levels.